Toorak mansion gives up its auction treasures

Furniture and collectables from one of Melbourne’s most prestigious Toorak mansions will be auctioned on site at 159 Kooyong Road from noon Sunday June 26 by Christian McCann Auctions.

Sergeant Major Tivey built Nauroy at the beginning of the 20^th century after returning from the Boer War and when he died his daughter turned the home into a boarding house.

Boarding house guests included members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

More than 30 years ago, the current owners purchased Nauroy (which has recently been sold) and restored it to its former glory.

The mansion’s furnishings match its opulence, with many of the items being obtained from some of Melbourne’s leading antique dealers – prompting Christian McCann to describe the auction as the best he has ever carried out, the quality rarely seen outside museums and stately homes.

“It rivals any collection to be seen worldwide including New York, London, Monaco and Paris,” he said.

Included in the collection are quality antique furnishings, important Australian art, superb sculptures and affine collection of 18^th and 19^th century porcelain.

Among the furniture is 19^th century French ormolu mounted boulle salon pieces, a triple-fronted Veni-Martin vitrine, bureau-plats, soft furnishings, occasional French pieces and carved gilt items.

One of the more interesting items bound to attract auction goers is the rare and important 18^th century tapestry.

The antique French porcelain featuring 18^th and 19^th century ormolu mounted Sevres pieces (the finest in recent memory) will undoubtedly see collectors rubbing their hands in glee, and will be ably supported by quality 18^th and 19^th century Meissen and Dresden.

Nineteenth century French clocks and timepieces are another attraction – and include an important exhibition boulle salon clock, and ormolu and bronze clocks and clock sets.

Works by important Australian artists including Arthur Boyd, Hugh Sawrey, Pro Hart, Albert Namatjira, Sidney Nolan, Ray Crooke and David Boyd also are on offer.

For sculpture collectors there are signed antique marble and bronze figure and figure groups.

Chinese porcelain and jade is always hot auction property and this sale includes a superb pair of antique Chinese polychrome ivory figures and carved ivory groups.